Ahead of the first and the historic Test match between Pakistan and Australia starting on Friday, the hosts, Pakistan have suffered another major setback. Pakistan team’s fast bowler Haris Rauf reported positive to the COVID-19 and now is likely that he will not be able to be a part of the team in the first test match. The first test match between the two teams is to be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, from the 4th March.
Australian cricket team’s tour to Pakistan is a historic series as it will be after a gap 24 years that Pakistan will be hosting Australia in their real home, in Pakistan, after last in 1998.
The excitement levels are quite high among the Pakistan fans to welcome back a strong team like Australia to play in Pakistan. Beforehand, Pakistan had also hosted some other series’ along with the Pakistan Super League. Australian cricket team’s tour to Pakistan is the first major series.
But, Pakistan have been hit by a some setbacks even before the series begins. A number of players have suffered injury and have been ruled out. Now pace bowler Haris Rauf has tested positive to COVID-19.
Rauf has not played a single Test match for Pakistan so far and now after being tested COVID positive, he will have to wait longer to debut in the longest format of the game.
Before Rauf, pacers Hasan Ali and Faheem Ashraf also got injured during the PSL 2022, and have been also ruled out of the Test series. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had issued a statement saying that Iftikhar Ahmed and Mohammad Wasim Jr have been included in the team in place of Hasan and Ashraf.
The Australian cricket team has come to Pakistan after almost 24 years. The Kangaroo team will play a series of three Tests, three ODIs and one T20I match against the hosts as part of the itinerary.
Both the teams will play the first Test match from 4 March. And exactly a month later, on 5 April, the tour will end with the only T20I match to be played in Rawalpindi. The second Test will be played in Karachi from March 12 to 16, while the third and final Test match will be played in Lahore from March 21 to 25.